Irvin Named Second-Team Freshman All-American
3/1/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 1, 2002
CHICAGO, Ill. - TCU forward Sandora Irvin, who was named to both the Conference USA All-Freshman Team and C-USA third team yesterday, today was elected a Second-Team Freshman All-American by the Women's Basketball News Service. She is the first Lady Frog ever to be awarded second-team recognition.
Irvin led all Conference USA freshmen in rebounding at 9.3 per game and ranked third among first-year players in scoring at 11.0 points per contest. The niece of former star Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin, Sandora recorded eight double-doubles this season while helping the No. 25 Lady Frogs win the regular season C-USA title in their first season in the league. Irvin also shattered the TCU single-season blocked shot record, ranking second in Conference USA with 78 rejections. She placed first on the Frogs in rebounds and blocked shots and second on the team in scoring.
"I think it's a great honor for Sandora," TCU head coach Jeff Mittie said. "She has had an outstanding year, and I think she is one of the top freshmen in the nation. A lot of things that Sandora does don't show up on a stat sheet. Her presence has enabled us to become one of the top defensive teams in the country. There is no doubt that she has been a big part of what we've been able to accomplish so far this season."
Nationally, Irvin finished first among all freshmen in blocked shots and third in rebounding. She is joined with freshman honors by Cincinnati's Debbie Merrill, who was named to the Freshman All-America third team. Merrill was voted Conference USA's Freshman of the Year.
The 2002 Conference USA Tournament is currently taking place at the DePaul Athletic Center in Chicago. The tournament will run March 1-4. The championship game will be televised by ESPN 2 on March 4 at 10:00 p.m. (CST).
